U.S. patent number 4,857,807 [Application Number 07/092,368] was granted by the patent office on 1989-08-15 for auxiliary light module for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Charles W. Hargis.
United States Patent |
4,857,807 |
Hargis |
August 15, 1989 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Auxiliary light module for vehicles
Abstract
An auxiliary light module for vehicles, giving "battery back-up"
provisions, particularly useful for "semi" vehicles in which the
pulling tractor electrically energizes the light systems of the
pulled trailer by a connector strap or harness for interconnecting
the tractor's output jack and the trailer's input jack; and the
module provides a device conveniently connectable to both the
tractor and trailer by jacking to the jacks now used by the jacks
of such connector strap or harness. The module includes a battery,
a switch, and circuitry for providing the electrical energization
of the trailer's running lights and tail lights when the semi is
stopped, and whether or not the tractor remains connected to the
trailer, providing safety of the warning lights being lit, avoiding
drain on the tractor's own battery, etc.
Inventors: |
Hargis; Charles W. (Brazil,
IN) |
Family
ID: |
22232885 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/092,368 |
Filed: |
September 2, 1987 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
315/77; 307/10.8;
315/88; 315/86; 340/431 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q
1/305 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60Q
1/26 (20060101); H05B 037/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;315/135,93,77,86,88,92
;307/1LS,38,43 ;362/20 ;340/641,642 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Boudreau; Leo H.
Assistant Examiner: Razavi; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Spray; Robert A.
Claims
I claim:
1. An auxiliary light module for vehicles having a first type light
system and a second type light system, both of which light systems
are connected to and engergized by the vehicle's battery
independently of the vehicle being provided with an auxiliary light
module as defined below, and an input jack means having a first
terminal for the first type light system and a second terminal for
the second type light system,
the vehicle also having a battery and an output jack means having a
first terminal for electrically energizing the vehicle's first type
light system and a second terminal for electrically energizing the
vehicle's second type light system,
the vehicle also having a first switch means for regulating the
energization of the first type light system from the vehicle's
battery, and second switch means for regulating energization of the
second type light system from the vehicle's battery, the vehicle's
said first switch means and said second switch means being
operative to regulate the energization of the vehicle's first type
light system and second type light system independently of the
auxiliary light module defined below;
the module comprising:
a switch means;
a battery;
a first input jack means and a second output jack means;
the module's first input jack means having a first terminal for
connection to the vehicle's output jack means' first terminal for
energizing the vehicle's first type light system, and a second
terminal for connection to the vehicle's output jack means' second
terminal for energizing the vehicle's second type light system;
the module's second output jack means having a first terminal for
connection to the vehicle's input jack means' first terminal for
energizing the vehicle's first type light system, and a second
terminal for connection to the vehicle's input jack means' second
terminal energizing the vehicle's second type light system;
the module also comprising first circuitry for interconnecting the
said first terminals of the vehicle's said output jack means and of
the vehicle's said input jack means, and second circuitry for
interconnecting the said second terminals of the vehicle's said
output jack means and of the vehicle's said input jack means;
the module also having energizing circuitry connecting, in
parallel, the said module's first circuitry to the module's switch
means and connecting the said module's second circuitry to the
module's switch means;
and energizing circuitry connecting the module's battery to the
module's switch means;
the module's components and circuitry providing that if its second
jack means is connected to the vehicle's input jack means, the
module's switch means will permit the module's battery to energize
one or both of the vehicle's first type light system and second
type light system independently of any energization by the
vehicle's battery.
2. An auxiliary light module according to claim 1, in which the
vehicle has other type electrical systems other than its said first
type light system and second type light system, and correspondingly
other switch means, and the vehicle's said input jack means and
output jack means accordingly have other terminals than their said
terminals for electrically energizing the vehicle's said first type
light system and second type light system, the vehicle's said other
terminals providing for electrical connection and energization of
the circuitry of the vehicle's said other type electrical systems
for their energization, depending on the setting of the vehicle's
said other switch means;
and the module is accordingly provided, as to its first jack means
and its second jack means, and in addition to its said first
circuitry and second circuitry, with other circuitry;
said other circuitry being electrically independent of the module's
switch means, energizing circuitry and battery;
said other circuitry of the module providing for electrical
energization of the said other type electrical system by the
vehicle's battery, dependent upon the setting of the vehicle's said
other switch means,
but, independently of the setting of the vehicle's first switch
means and second switch means, and of the setting of the vehicle's
said correspondingly other switch means, and also of the vehicle's
battery, the module provides for the electrical energization of the
vehicle's said first type light system and second type light
system.
3. An auxiliary light module according to claim 1, in which the
module's said switch means provides at least two settings in which
a certain one of the vehicle's first type light system and second
type light system is always energized by the module's battery
whenever the module's said output jack means is connected to the
vehicle's input jack means, and which in only one of those settings
of the module's said switch means is the other one of the vehicle's
first type light system and second type light system energized by
the module's battery whenever the module's said output jack means
is connected to the vehicle's input jack means.
4. An auxiliary light module according to claim 2, in which the
module's said switch means provides at least two settings in which
a certain one of the vehicle's first type light system and second
type light system is always energized by the module's battery
whenever the module's said output jack means is connected to the
vehicle's input jack means, and which in only one of those settings
of the module's said switch means is the other one of the vehicle's
first type light system and second type light system energized by
the module's battery whenever the module's said output jack means
is connected to the vehicle's input jack means.
5. An auxiliary light module according to claim 1, in which the
vehicle's said first type light system comprises tail lights of the
vehicle.
6. An auxiliary light module according to claim 2, in which the
vehicle's said first type light system comprises tail lights of the
vehicle.
7. An auxiliary light module according to claim 3, in which the
vehicle's said first type light system comprises tail lights of the
vehicle, and it is the first type light system which is always so
energized in the two settings.
8. An auxiliary light module according to claim 4, in which the
vehicle's said first type light system comprises tail lights of the
vehicle, and it is the first type light system which is always so
energized in the two settings.
9. An auxiliary light module according to claim 1, in which the
vehicle's said second type light system comprises running lights of
the vehicle.
10. An auxiliary light module according to claim 2, in which the
vehicle's said second type light system comprises running lights of
the vehicle.
11. An auxiliary light module according to claim 3, in which the
vehicle's said second type light system comprises running lights of
the vehicle.
12. An auxiliary light module according to claim 4, in which the
vehicle's said second type light system comprises running lights of
the vehicle.
13. An auxiliary light module according to claim 5, in which the
vehicle's said second type light system comprises running lights of
the vehicle.
14. An auxiliary light module according to claim 6, in which the
vehicle's said second type light system comprises running lights of
the vehicle.
15. An auxiliary light module according to claim 7, in which the
vehicle's said second type light system comprises running lights of
the vehicle.
16. An auxiliary light module according to claim 8, in which the
vehicle's said second type light system comprises running lights of
the vehicle.
17. An auxiliary light module according to claim 1, in which the
vehicle comprises separatable components,
the vehicle's battery and output jack means being on one of the
separatable components, and
in which one or more lights of one of the types of light systems
is/are on that one of the vehicle components, and one or more
lights of one of the type of light systems is/are on the other of
the vehicle components,
yet the module provides energization operativity for all such
lights when the vehicle components are not separated, but, also for
the lights on either of the vehicle components when they are
separated.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicles, and more particularly to
the problem of assuring that warning lights are kept lit when a
vehicle is stopped, without undue battery drain.
Even more particularly, the present invention relates to the
provision of an auxiliary light device for vehicles, giving
"battery back-up" provisions, which is particularly useful for
vehicles known as "semis" in which conventionally the pulling
tractor is electrically connected to the light systems of the
pulled trailer by a connector strap or harness which interconnects
the tractor's output jack with the trailer's input jack.
The device advantageously used those jacks for its connection to
the circuitry of both the tractor and the trailer, and replaces the
conventional connector strap or harness; and when connected into
the vehicle's electrical system, the device provides the full
electrical energization of the trailer's running lights and tail
lights. Even when the semi is stopped and even when the trailer is
left parked along the highway with the tractor moved away, the
invention provides for the trailer the safety of its warning lights
being kept lit for prolonged periods; and this is without any drain
at all on the primary battery of the semi's tractor.
Other features or advantages will be apparent as the description
proceeds.
The Invention and the Inventive Concepts in summary form
In carrying out the invention in a preferred embodiment, the
invention is provided as a modular device, including a battery, a
switch, and circuitry for providing the electrical energization of
each of the trailer's running lights and tail lights when the semi
is stopped. The module's circuitry includes jacks for connecting
the module electrically to the vehicle's jacks conventionally used
for the energization of the trailer's own circuitries.
Specifics of the module's circuitry include "battery back-up"
provisions, which are particularly useful for semi vehicles in
which the vehicle's own battery is in the pulling tractor but
energizes the trailer's circuitry; and the battery of the module
provides energization of the trailer circuitry, even independently
of the primary battery. Switching means as provided by the module
permits the user to optionally use the module for energizing the
trailer's running (or outline) lights, optionally, and also its
tail lights.
This takes the load of all warning lights of a stopped trailer off
the vehicle's battery, saving its charge for high-amperage duty of
starting, etc., yet by being jacked also to the vehicle's battery
circuit, the auxiliary battery of the modular is itself kept
charged (or re-charged) by the vehicle's primary battery. Other
features are to be seen in the description.
The Prior Art has never achieved the Invention
Of course, batteries, switches, and electric circuitry have been
known and used for scores of years; and surely every person in the
modern world is quite familiar at least with flashlights if not
even also other types of auxiliary light devices. Connectable jacks
for electric circuits are of course also universally known, even on
low-current extension lights which may be plugged into a vehicle's
cigarette lighter which serves as a jack; and these and other
factors of prior art knowledge and prior art devices are quite well
known, to users, to competitive manufacturers, and to inventors the
world over.
However, the existence of such articles and knowledge of the prior
art is not only conceded, it is emphasized; for it is with
similarities to long-known components and concepts that the present
inventive concepts build, accomplishing a device of a construction
and an operativity significantly different than just the components
and operativities of all the articles of the prior art, and thus
the inventive significance of the present concepts is emphasized,
and the nature of the concepts and their results can perhaps be
easier understood.
Even further as indicating the inventive nature of the present
concepts is the result of a Preliminary Patentability Search made
in the Search files of the U.S. Patent Office, after this invention
was made, and during the course of considering the desire and
likelihood of patent protection.
The Search produced the following, all U.S. Patents, even though
the Search was conducted in nine different Sub-classes of three
Classes:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,507, Daniels, 5/01/84,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,649, McCue et al., 12/23/86.
None of those references, however, show the concepts of either of
the features of the present invention, as now shown.
The McCue et al. patent has a "battery-backup" concept, but its
provisions fail to show or suggest a circuitry in series with a
vehicle battery circuit and vehicle's light circuit, nor even to
connect to a vehicle's light circuit at all as an auxiliary power
for such a circuit exteriorly of the light fixture itself. Neither
does is have or suggest the module of the present invention, nor
its operativity.
As to the Daniels patent, although it shows a provision of a
"spare" as to a vehicle lighting system, and shows a switch means
for optionally engaging one or the other of a first lowbeam circuit
and a spare one of such circuits, it does not even have a separate
or backup battery, and neither does it have or suggest the module
of the present invention nor its operativity.
The invention's components and concepts are similar to those
available in the prior art, except for the present combination
In the hindsight consideration of the present invention to
determine its inventive and novel nature, it is not only conceded
but emphasized that the prior art had details usable in this
invention, but only if the prior art had had the guidance of the
present concepts.
That is, it is emphasized that the prior art has long had several
particulars:
a. The prior art had batteries, circuitry, switches, jacks, and
even a module concept for such components;
b. The prior art has long known of the disadvantages of dead or
low-charge batteries;
c. The prior art has long known of situations of a trailer to be
parked along a highway, and the pulling tractor disconnected and
moved away;
d. The prior art has provided devices and circuitry for many types
of associated electrically-energized components;
e. Tractors and trailers of the prior art have long had output
jacks and input jacks; and indeed it is with such conventional
components of the prior art that the module of this invention is
advantageously used;
f. All of these factors of prior art knowledge and components are
well known not only to surely all manufacturers of vehicle
accessories but even to surely most all users of vehicles for which
these modules are advantageously to be used; and those users are
familiar with the very vehicle jacks whose connector straps are
replaced by the module of this invention.
Accordingly, the various concepts and components and knowledge
factors of the prior art are conceded and emphasized to have been
widely known in the prior art of vehicle accessories' manufacture
and use; nevertheless, the prior art not having had such concepts,
even only a fair amount of realistic humility, to avoid
consideration of this invention improperly by hindsight, requires
the concepts and achievement here to be realistically viewed as
inventive in their nature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above description of the novel and advantageous auxiliary light
module, which provides more than a battery-backup by the novel
combination of features, is of somewhat introductory and
generalized form. More particular details, concepts, and features
are set forth in the following and more detailed description of an
illustrative embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, which are of somewhat schematic and diagrammatic nature,
for showing of the inventive concepts for such a advantageous
module as the concepts of the present invention are illustrated in
this embodiment.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a vehicle known as a
"semi," with mechanically-connected pulling tractor and pulled
trailer, and with electric components schematically indicated as
are relevant to a showing and understanding of the invention,
together with a representation of a module of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the module of the invention,
diagrammatically illustrating its components and circuitry; and
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of one of the connector jacks used in
the use of the invention as per this embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
As shown in the drawings, the present inventive concepts provide an
advantageous auxiliary for vehicles, particularly useful for a
vehicle known as a "semi" 10 having a pulling tractor 12 and a
pulled trailer 14, and providing "backup" for the tractor battery
16; however, the concepts are not limited to those uses, as
explained herein.
More particularly as shown, the concepts provide the operational
effects by an auxiliary light module 18 shown provided in a
container 19; and, in addition to other electrical circuitry or
systems such as high-amperage starter and heater circuitry (not
shown), such a vehicle 10 will have relatively low-amperage systems
as for the trailer's tail lights 20 and running lights 22 (also
called "marker" or "outline" lights).
Those low-current lights 20 and 22 are the lights which are
serviced by the module 18; and the circuitry for energizing the
trailer's tail lights 20 and running lights 22 is schematically
shown and indicated herein as a first type (here tail lights) light
system 24 and a second type (here running light) light system 26;
and although both are of low current drain, their energization by
the module 18 during lengthy stop-times of the vehicle 10 prevents
drain of the battery 16, all as achieved as described herein.
The trailer 14, as shown, conventionally has an input jack means 28
having a first terminal 30 for the first type light system 24 and a
terminal 32 for the second type light system 26; and the tractor
vehicle 12 also conventionally has, correspondingly, an output jack
means 34, having a first terminal 30 for a electrically energizing
the vehicle's first type light system 24, and a second terminal 32
for electrically energizing the vehicle's second type light system
26.
Conventionally the tractor vehicle 12 also has a first switch means
36 for regulating the energization of the first type light system
24 from the vehicle's battery 16, and second switch means 38 for
regulating the energization of the second type light system 36 from
the vehicle's battery 16.
Those conventional vehicle 10 components of course are not asserted
as parts of the present invention; but the present invention is
associated with them advantageously, as herein described.
The module 18 as shown includes in its container 19 a switch means
40, a battery 42, and, for operative connection respectively to the
tractor 12 and trailer 14, a first or input jack means 44 and a
second or output jack means 46.
Also correspondingly, the module's first input jack means 44 has a
first terminal 30 for connection to the vehicle's output jack
means' first terminal 30, this for energizing the vehicle's first
type light system 24; and the input jack means 44 has a second
terminal 32 for connection to the vehicle's output jack means'
second terminal 32, for energizing the vehicle's second type light
system 26.
The correspondency is further shown by the module's second output
jack means 46 having a first terminal 30 for connection to the
vehicle's input jack means' first terminal 30, for energizing the
vehicle's first type light system 24; and the output jack means 46
has a second terminal 32 for connection to the vehicle's input jack
means second terminal 32, for energizing the vehicle's second type
light system 26.
These energizations, which are received by the module's input jack
means 44, are energizations by the vehicle's own battery 16; and
the energizations given by the module's output jack means 46 are
from either the vehicle's own battery 16, or the module's battery
42, as described further herein, and also dependent upon the
setting of the vehicle's own light switches 36 and 38.
The module 18, internally of its container 19 in the form shown, is
provided with circuitry 48 and 50. That is, the circuitry 48 and 50
comprises first circuitry 48 for interconnecting the said first
terminals 30 of the vehicle's output jack means 34 and of the
vehicle's input jack means 28, and second circuitry 50 for
interconnecting the second terminals 32 of the vehicle's output
jack means 34 and of the vehicle's input jack means 28; and thus
terminals 30 connect circuits 48 (52) and 24, and terminals 32
connect circuits 50 (54) and 26.
Providing electrical energy to its internal circuitry 48 and 80,
and thus electrically operative to the circuitry of the vehicle 10
as herein specified, the module 18 also is shown having in its
container 19 energizing circuitry, connecting, in parallel, the
module's first circuitry 48 and the module's second circuitry 50,
respectively, to the module's switch means 40, this other
energizing circuitry being shown as comprising, respectively,
circuit branch 52 and circuit branch 54, leading from the switch 40
to those circuits 48 and 50, respectively.
Shown as energizing the switch 40, there is energizing circuitry 56
(shown through a circuit breaker 58) connecting the module's
battery 42 to the module's switch means 40; and thus, as shown, the
module's components and circuitry provide that if its second or
output jack means 46 is connected to the vehicle's input jack means
28, the module's switch means 40 will permit (dependent upon the
setting of the module switch 40) the module's battery 42 to
energize one or both of the vehicle's first type (taillights 20)
light system 24 and second type (running lights 22) light system
26, this being quite independent of any energization by the
vehicle's battery 16, and thus without any drain thereof.
The components thus energized by the module 18's auxiliary battery
42 (by circuit 56 through circuit breaker 58 to the module switch
40) are, respectively, 52/48/24/20, and 54/50/26/22.
As mentioned, the vehicle 10 will conventionally have other
circuitry and electrical systems, i.e., other than those of 24 (20)
and 26 (22); and the auxiliary light module 18 provides for those
other circuits also, that is, the vehicle's other type electrical
system (other than its first type light system (20,24) and second
type light system (22,26)).
More particularly, the module 18 is provided with means for
accommodating or providing electrical interconnection of the other
circuitry (not shown) between the tractor 12 and trailer 14 (each
of which other circuitry would conventionally have its own
corresponding other switch means (not shown); and accommodating the
vehicle's input jack means 28 and output jack means 34 accordingly,
as to their other terminals than their terminals (30 and 32) for
electrically energizing the vehicle's first type light system 24
and second type light system 26, the module 18 is accordingly
provided, as to its first (or input) jack means 44 and its second
(or output) jack means 46, and additionally to the module's first
circuitry 48 and second circuitry 50 which are connected to those
module's jack means 44/46, with other circuitry 60 which is/are
also connected to the modules jack means 44/46.
Such other circuitry 60 is electrically independent of the module's
switch means 40, energizing circuitry 52/54, and battery 42, and
provides for electrical energization of the other type electrical
systems by the vehicle's battery 16, dependent of course upon the
setting of the vehicle's other switch means (not shown).
As so far described, it should be noted that independent of the
setting of the vehicle's first switch means 36 and second switch
means 38, and of the setting of the vehicle's other switch means
(not shown) for the circuitry other than the light circuits 20/24
and 22/26, and independent of the vehicle's battery 16, the module
18 (when jacked to vehicle jacks 28 and 34) provides by the module
battery 42 for the electrical energization of the vehicle's first
type light system 20/24 and second type light system 22/26, and
accommodation of what any (or none) of the other circuitry is to be
used by power from the vehicle battery 16.
The module 18 circuitry as shown also provides a "ground" circuit
62, connected to the ground terminal of the module battery 42, and
connected to "ground" terminals 64 of the module jacks 44/46; and
it will be understood that these terminals 64 would register with
"ground" terminals of the vehicle's jack components.
With respect to registration of vehicle components, it will be also
understood of course that the terminals of the module jacks 44/46
register appropriately with the vehicle jacks 28/34 and their
terminals and circuitry. Polarization (proper orientation) is shown
by "ground" terminals 64 being larger than the others. desirably
also, to assure proper and corresponding registration with
circuitry of the vehicle 10, the module 18's circuitry is colored
conventionally as follows:
White: Ground 62/64
Brown: Taillights 20/24/30/48
Green: Right turn signal 60
Yellow: Left turn signal 60
Red: Brake lights 60
Black: Running lights 22/26/32/50
Blue: Auxiliary circuit 60
As to the module's switch means 40, it provides at least two
settings in which a certain one of (here tail lights 20/24) the
vehicle's first type light system 24 and second type light system
26 is always energized by the module's battery 42 whenever the
module's output jack means 46 is connected to the vehicle's input
jack means 28. In contrast, in only one of the switch-settings is
the other one (here running lights 22/26) of the vehicle's first
type light system 24 and second type light system 26 energized by
the module's battery 42 whenever the module's output jack means 46
is connected to the vehicle's input jack means 28.
The switch 40 is shown of double-pole, double-throw type; and on
one throw, its poles as contacted by the movable switch element 66
are respectively connected to circuits 52 and 54, whereas on the
other throw only a pole connected to circuit 52 is contacted.
The module jacks 44 and 46 (both shown of female type, as are the
vehicle jacks 34 and 28) do not in this embodiment directly engage
the vehicle jacks 34 and 28, but respectively do so indirectly by
electrical connector straps 70 shown having male jack-ends 72 on
both ends; and it will be of course understood that the straps 70
each have all the connector circuitry 48/50/60/62 of the module,
and have corresponding terminals 30/32, etc., thereof.
Tractor wiring (not shown) leads from terminals 30 and 32,
respectively, of the tractor jack 34 to the tracotr's tail lighs
and running (marker) lights; thus when the module 18 is jacked to
the tractor jack 34 the module 18 will energize those sets of
tractor lights, just as when the module 18 is jacked to the trailer
jack 28 it energizes the trailer's sets of tail lights 20 and
running lights 22, respectively.
By using combinations of input jack means to the tractor or
trailer, or both, the operater can decide what circuitry of the
vehicle is to be energized by the module 18.
Conclusion
It is thus seen that an auxiliary light module for vehicles, as
constructed and used according to the inventive concepts herein set
forth, provides novel concepts of a desirable and advantageous
device, yielding the advantages of a safety-providing and reliable
"battery-backup" means for a vehicle, and with handiness and
operativity features even more than a spare battery would provide,
and a convenience to such an extent that the user is encouraged to
use it upon any occasion of a prolonged stop, thus saving the
charge on the vehicle's battery for the vehicle battery's need of
maximum charge for high-load uses such as engine starting, etc.,
yet the concepts also provide for convenient re-charging of the
module's battery. Assembly and dis-assembly from the associated
vehicle are both quite convenient, as is the change from one
vehicle or to another, the assembly to or from a vehicle being
substantially just as easy as use of the vehicle's electrical
connector strap or harness.
In summary as to the nature of these advantageous concepts, their
inventiveness is shown by novel features of both concept and
construction shown herein, and by the novel concepts hereof not
only being different from all the prior art known, but because the
achievement is not what is or has been suggested to those of
ordinary skill in the art,, especially realistically considering
this as comprising standard-type components which are well known to
most manufacturers of vehicles' electrical connector straps or
harnesses which devices of the present invention advantageously
replace, and including also surely most of the many thousands of
vehicle drivers the world around, i.e., drivers of tractor-trailer
combinations who every day connect or disconnect such connectors
and who personally know of inconvenience, loss of time and money,
safety hazard, etc., of battery mishaps, dead batteries,
regulations and desires as to keeping warning lights lit, etc. Such
knowledge of the need for this type equipment has been known for
these vehicles for scores of years, the entire world over.
Yet, in spite of the detachability of the vehicles' connector
straps, which hindsight might assert to have surely led to a
suggestion of a convenient accommodation of some type of
battery-backup provision, and in spite of what other hindsight
might suggest, the realistic facts are that no prior art has
suggested the modification of any prior art to achieve the novel
concepts here achieved, and even though various types of battery
back-up or other spare battery instances as a general concept have
been known for many years as to many objects, and spare parts
concepts even for vehicles, quite certainly no particular
combination of references has been suggested by the prior art.
Instead, this achievement has been a substantial departure from
prior art, even though trucks or "semi" vehicles in particular have
needed these concepts for scores of years, and uses of components
of the module in non-analogous fields and fields outside the field
of endeavor of such persons and companies indicated above have not
suggested the particulars of a module as herein set forth.
And particularly is the overall difference from the prior art
significant when the non-obviousness is viewed by a consideration
of the subject matter as a whole, as integrally incorporating the
features different from the prior art, in contrast to merely those
details of novelty themselves.
Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of
the invention according to this illustrative embodiment, considered
with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides
new and useful concepts of a novel and advantageous auxiliary light
module for vehicles, having and yielding desired advantages and
characteristics in construction and use, and accomplishing the
intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and
others which are inherent in the invention.
Modifications and variations may be effected without departing from
the scope of the novel concepts of the invention; accordingly, the
invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, or form or
arrangement of parts herein described or shown.
For example, additional low-amperage systems other than running
lights and tail lights might be provided to be energized by a
module of this invention; and the word "light" is herein used in
the general sense of light duty or light amperage, rather than
necessarily illumination, although particularly running or outline
lights are especially considered as well as tail lights, both being
of relatively low amperage-draw in comparison to starter circuits,
many headlight circuits, etc. Also, although the module is shown
with its input and output jacks respectively connected to jacks
carried by strap segments which are both removably jacked to the
the tractor's battery circuitry and the trailer's light circuitry,
respectively some tractors or trailers may have their strip
segments fastened integrally rather than releasably jacked; but the
present concepts include whatever are the connections or jacks
used, and male or female jack means may be provided, and adapters
as to such connections, and strip segments accommodating the module
to whatever is the nature of the associated vehicle. For any
vehicle having an integral circuit connecting the battery circuit
and light circuit, the integral circuit would be cut, and jacks
installed for the battery circuit and light-circuit, providing for
removable installation of a module of this invention.
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